It is a striking thing that God's identity is linked to man.

God was first known through the life of Abraham, and was called 'the God of Abraham'...The worlds idea about God, come from first seeing what sort of man Abraham was, his life portrayed his God, and served as a recommendation for Him.

When Jacob fled from home and the murderous threats of Esau, he referred to the Lord as the 'God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac.' That is how he identified God....by how that God had shaped their lives........This brought a sense of awe upon Jacob....He resolved that one day, their God would be his God.


If the name of Jacob was to be associated with his fathers God...he wanted to maintain the reputation of that God.

Some people say, for example....I believe in my "mothers God" or "I believe in Paul's God" or "I believe in Jean's God" ....etc.....People talk about presenting the gospel in a nutshell....but the gospel can only be presented in a person.

The gospel is more than a formula for getting to heaven when you die......The gospel offers life, not just a life-belt...The essence of evangelism is to show what God is like.

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own people, that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into light"

Make this the cry of your heart today: "God I want to be your bold evangelist pointing the way to life in Jesus Christ

Especially since you are absolutely right. The Gospel itself is the most complete lifestyle guide people need. Today with the Hebrew and Greek dictionaries and language studies guides, what was once believed to be some mystical overlay to a life we cannot live turns out to be the life we not only can live, but have to, to proclaim faith in "our" God through Jesus Christ.

We even have the help of the disciples, with their witness to Christ's life as they traveled with him. Learning and living their lives anew, then teaching that to others through their letters and meetings with believers in many cultures. As we must do as well. What I say here is no different then what those I work with understand about me and with my friends as the same. Most of what I have put up in public forums is not some theoretical hypothesis it is about the situations I have lived through, and beared witness to, what I have learned and how I am still growing, not only in life but in faith as well. Our lives in Christ is not only just believe and be saved because we still have to get from this point, "being saved" to the time we pass on. For many people that is like 40-60 years... In that time we have to live as we believe or we are no different than the Pharisees and Sadducees that Jesus stood against, for being hypocrites, as he taught even them.

Yeah, Stephen thank you for the post, to believe, is to live as you believe and in turn lead others to His path as they follow you, using your life as an example, as we use Jesus' life as our example.

In the peace of our Lord and Saviour may we all be blessed.

Yeah, Stephen thank you for the post, to believe, is to live as you believe and in turn lead others to His path as they follow you, using your life as an example, as we use Jesus' life as our example.

In the peace of our Lord and Saviour may we all be blessed.

Amen indeed......May we all know His blessing...as we seek to proclaim the gospel of Jesus

Its not about the thread but I wonder why on earth would a Christian call himself mystic pagan. It bothers me and I would like to understand. Sorry if it sounds bad.

Sorry you feel that way, especially since real information is so readily available. You should find this interesting. It is based on openly available knowledge, rather than the slang which was used to torment people based on fear and superstition. I also have it posted here so people fears can be eleviated rather than reacting on erronious hearsay.

What's in a name, or Title

What I find particularily curious is that my nick a title given to me years ago becomes more an issue than the message I left here. I guess I don't need to say any more.

Jesus is to be called the everlasting Father, so His example is very humanly personal.